It was one of those daydreams that ignited a fire in my belly. Sometimes, my mind wanders, and that is OK with me. I was imaging what a utopia would be like. How perfect could the world be, if we all used our heads? That entails something much greater than I will ever learn. One thing that I have learned along my journey is the power of empathy.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. A concept so simple, but seldom does society practice it. I wouldn’t be the first to say that I have judged others before understanding a situation. In a complex world, it may be a hard pill to swallow. So I decided to take a big gulp, and even swallowed some pride. Not only has it made me a better person, but I will forever be grateful for the peace I found within myself.

To be honest, a utopia isn’t possible. There is nothing or no one in this world that is perfect. Some days we wake up with bed head and are late for work, and other days chaos may prevail. They come and go like the sun and moon. If you’re lucky, you won’t spill the coffee in the morning on the counter, or plan accordingly when matching your outfit.

Empathy goes beyond your daily chores or routine. Empathy has the power of teaching you a valuable lesson all while being someone’s shoulder to cry on. It’s certain that we all have been in conflicts in our life. It’s only natural to piss off a Facebook warrior or maybe even your best friend a time or two. That is life, but handling it with grace is the best action. Actually, it is the only action you should take.

Not everyone thinks like you; not everyone is going to appreciate you. The old saying “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” is a lesson a person must learn in this life. Sure, we all get sparking mad every so often, but is retaliation worth it? Think about it for a second. If someone is doing something out of the ordinary, provoking conflict, they more than likely do not know any better. If someone doesn’t react to every situation in life with grace or comfort, they were likely taught otherwise. Attitude is everything, so be graceful. Nobody is perfect.

You could save your sanity if you just gave it a try. Who knows? It may even change your life. I know it changed mine, and for the better. Given, I am not perfect, but I am forever changed by the power of empathy. Realizing this world will never be a utopia, I took control to make my world seem perfect. A calm and cool approach to life ignited that empathy. I wish the world the best and I hope one would choose to empathize. There is too much hate in the world, and who wants a burden like that? Not me; I want to love thy neighbor. I want to love thy neighbor so much, my neighbor will empathize and love theirs. 10 times harder.